Finance
A finance degree from KU will prepare you to work in a variety of fields, including corporate finance, investment banking, commercial banking, asset management, real estate and personal financial planning. Your general business education, as well as your specific training in finance, will prepare you for competitive jobs.
Sample of Related Skills
- Access and analyze financial statements to evaluate the financial health of the firm and the strategies it employs to create value for its shareholders
- Develop and apply financial modeling skills for the valuation of the firm and of individual capital assets, securities, and other investment vehicles
- Apply principles of asset allocation and diversification to formulate portfolio strategies
- Understand the characteristics of the principle asset classes and key securities to be able to evaluate their appropriateness as investments in a broad range of portfolio applications
- Understand concepts like the time value of money, the risk/expected return relationships and asset-class and security diversification, to construct an investment portfolio that satisfies a hypothetical client’s objectives and constraints
- Demonstrate knowledge of major domestic and global financial institutions and the role of those institutions in the global economy and financial markets
- Develop preliminary working knowledge of the Standards of Practice and Codes of Conduct of financial practitioners (CFA, CFP, etc.) and use them to address ethical challenges that may be presented in a professional setting
Popular Career Paths
Corporate Finance: Refers to the financial activities of a private business including analyzing revenue and expenses to contribute to an effective use of capital, advising managers about project costs, making capital investments, and helping companies grow
Investment Banking: Involves underwriting, trading securities (stocks and bonds), providing financial advisory services (such as mergers and acquisition advice), financing of deals, and managing assets
Commercial Banking: Entails a range of activities from sales, investment banking and trading, analyzing credit, and approving loans
Asset Management: Involves managing the money of clients to achieve specific financial objectives within guidelines under which an investment pool is organized
Real Estate: Involves such areas as development, construction, leasing, and financial transactions
Personal Financial Planning: Entails helping clients make decisions about long-term financial issues to achieve their financial goals
Jobs to Consider
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Places to Seek Employment
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Apartment Complexes Appraisal Firms Brokerage Firms Captive Finance Companies Commercial Banks Credit Unions Developers Federal Agencies Federal Reserve Banks Financial Partnerships Foundations Hedge Funds Hospitals |
Commercial Banks Credit Unions Developers Real Estate Brokers Real Estate Investment Trusts Regulatory Agencies Savings & Loan Associations Investment Banks Mortgage Banks Multi-line Insurance Firms Mutual Funds Private Equity Funds Insurance Firms |
Hedge Funds Insurance firms Investment Banks Mortgage Banks Schools and Universities Sole Practitioners State and Local Governments Trust Companies Non-profit Organizations Private Banking Private Businesses Foundations Financial Partnerships |
View specific employers by state.
Employment Strategies
- Get experience through an internship or other relevant part-time or summer work.
- Conduct informational discussions with individuals from industry. The Alumni Directories in the BCS provide a great place to start.
- Participate in a job shadowing experience through Jayhawks on the Job or a company visit through a Friday Field Trip. Both are programs coordinated through the BCS.
- Attend the Finance Career Conversations and Business Career Fair events each September to talk with hiring organizations and industry representatives from Finance.
- Read the Wall Street Journal.
- Join the Finance Club or other student organizations that will facilitate career exploration.
- Develop strong analytical, accounting, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Explore various professional designations and licenses relevant to finance career paths.
Job and Internship Search Resources
- Finance OneWire - job board and career management tool for Finance professionals
- Careers in Finance - information about finance career paths
- Insurance Information Institute - information about insurance for public education purposes
- Financial News - news site for finance-specific articles
- Institute of Real Estate Management - a membership-based organization for real estate managers, includes a job board
- Efinancial Careers - job board and career search tool for entry, mid, and advanced level finance careers
- Securities Industry Association - professional organization for the securities industry
- Broker Hunter - job search tool for financial advisor positions
- Certified Financial Analyst Institute - finance education and membership-based organization for the finance industry
- Hedge Fund Intelligence - news site for finance-specific articles
- Top Consultant - career search tool for consulting jobs
- Consulting Magazine - news site for consulting-specific articles
The quick link for this page is career.ku.edu/finance.
Go back to Careers & KU Majors homepage.
